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Missouri River Basin Drought Early Warning System

Conditions for the week of May 15-21, 2019

Half an inch to over 2 inches of precipitation fell across much of the High Plains region this week. But there were some strips which received 0.25 inch or less, including parts of eastern Nebraska, northern North Dakota, southwestern Wyoming, and southeastern Colorado. Abnormally dry (D0) conditions expanded in the northern counties of North Dakota. In Colorado, on the other hand, recent precipitation, low evaporative demand in recent weeks, improving long-term moisture conditions, and hydrologic rebound from snowmelt prompted a reduction of D0 in the remaining areas of the state.

This is a National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and climate partners monthly briefing that covers the region from the Rockies to the Great Lakes. Subject matter includes a summary of past and current conditions in terms of many climate variables like snowpack, temperatures, precipitation, etc. In addition, potential and ongoing impacts from climate phenomena will be considered across sectors (agriculture, water resources, etc...). Finally, outlook information from two weeks to the next few months/seasons will be discussed.

NIDIS Drought Early Warning Systems (DEWS)

National Drought Mitigation Center
The National Drought Mitigation Center works closely with NIDIS to provide drought-related resources and information. For more news and impacts information, visit the NDMC.

USDA Federal Drought Assistance
For information on resources available to help aid in the recovery from this year’s drought, visit the USDA.

The National Drought Resilience Partnership (NDRP) comprises seven federal agencies which work collaboratively to support state, tribal, local, and private sector approaches to managing drought risks and impacts. Learn More